EDITORIAL COMMENTRY The Malady of Technology in Our Lives: Is Anyone Listening?

Technology is defined as Science or knowledge applied to a definite purpose [1]. For centuries, technology has continued to affect human lives. In the recent past, communication platforms such as Internet, computers, i-pods, and smart mobile phones have influenced us more than any other technology [2]. As time evolves, more such technological tools will make their way into our lives and transform the way we think, interact, and progress. Technologies do enhance human capabilities in terms of what humans can do now compared to what they did a few decades ago. However, integration of technology in every sphere of our life seems to be making us weaker both physically and intellectually, turning us into mere consuming robots than productive human beings. While technology rapidly evolves and remains modern, we as human beings are becoming obsolete. Faster evolution of technology only adds to our feeling of inadequacy, since we are constantly in a race to catch up and possess the new technological tools. Does engaging ourselves with the modern electronic applications take away from us the power of innovation? Do we get time to reflect about ourselves and our surroundings? Does technology affect the balance between our work and leisure time since we are expected to be online and available all the time? Is our privacy being invaded unhindered? If our lives become so acculturated with technology, will we be able to continue to focus and draw attention to the issues that affect us? Doesnt an exuberant dependence on technology make us more vulnerable? Is it not time to be serious about assessing new technologies for their impact on us? The objective of this article is to look at some of these questions briefly. Technology makes it easier for us to accomplish many tasks without any physical and mental effort. That is a big destroyer of two things: our physical mobility and mental ability. Let me look at a few examples. When you step on the road, it is not uncommon to see nearly everyone in the streets talking or texting from a mobile phone immersed in their own virtual world. Many of us, primarily youngsters, tend to be more preIETE TECHNICAL REVIEW | VoL 30 | ISSUE 1 | JAN-FEB 2013

occupied with the visual media such as online games, you-tube, i-pods, and GPS-enabled smart phones. The problem with this media is that information keeps changing continuously since it is a real-time media. Isnt it true that while knowledge is always bounded, imagination has no limits? However, users dependent on visual media hardly get time for reflection and imagination which are essential ingredients for developing critical thinking skills [3]. The negative effects of violence in online games, such as aggressive behaviour and lack of sensitivity to reallife violence, are now well documented. While children below two years are not recommended to use technology, they end up watching TV for not less than couple of hours [4]. This makes them spend less time exploring their surroundings, resulting in a reduced motor and psychological development. The practice of reading from the print media is generally declining among the children and even adults. A recent Oxford university study, involving 17,200 people, has shown that regular reading habits will likely to enhance their ability to do well academically and later in their professional careers [5]. The implications of internet addiction are well understood [6,7]. This is no different from any other forms of addiction such as alcohol or drug addiction which can play havoc with our ability to carry out our social responsibilities. We seem to be meeting too many persons in the virtual world while our conversations with people around us are on a decline. Our bonding with keypads and touch screens is only making us disconnect with the real world resulting in unexpected effects. Social media paradoxically may lead us to social isolation. Our emotional needs cannot be met by virtual relationships. Use of too much social media technology, such as Facebook, Twitter, and My space, momentarily increases our self-esteem and makes us loose our selfcontrol [8]. Lack of self-control, as in the case of alcohol consumption, can lead to undesirable social behavior. Isnt technology supposed to enhance the existing societal and individual styles of our lives and provide solutions to our needs? The rapid integration of technology
3

Kumar MJ: The Malady of Technology in Our Lives

in over lives seems to be doing the opposite. Spirituality, ethics and human sciences appear to be pushed to the background by the sudden surge of technological evolution [9]. Technology makes everything a few steps nearer and as many of us continue to experience, the application of technology has often ended up as a problem embedded as part of the solution. Can we draw some lessons here? Technology will continue to forge ahead and there is no doubt that we will adapt ourselves to the new technologies because of its innumerable advantages. However, along with the technological developments, should we not also evolve methods which will enable us to be selective about the choice of technologies? Should a technology be adopted by society just because it seems useful at the time of its entry although its future impact is poorly understood? We often deploy a given technology, even when it is not acceptably safe and know that it will have indirect and unanticipated negative fall outs on society. Once a technology becomes widely accepted in everyday life, we also become less sensitive about the risks versus benefits reassessment and accept the risks associated with technologies without any serious thought. Today, technology has become so integrated in our lives that we seem to have acquired a completely blurred risk perception. The transformative impact of new technologies on societies could be immense. It is not always conceivable to foresee the potential influence of new technologies while we are still mesmerized by its appealing benefits. However, before a technology becomes part of our everyday living and begins to influence the way we live and interact with each other, we need to assess the technology for its likely societal, environmental, and economic implications. Technology assessment is about values and a deep reflection, and analysis of human survivals interdependence on each other and nature. Kleinman defines technology assessment as a practice intended to enhance societal understanding of the broad implications of science and technology [10]. Universities and higher educational institutes can play an important role in innovating technology assessment methods and training of researchers to be able to carry out research and analysis. But sadly, these are issues of least prominence in our science and engineering curriculum. As Kleinman says, public engagement in technology assessment is vital too since they will bring in life experiences and social values which are seldom in the domain of the experts. A wider involvement in technology assessment will enable in incorporating public concerns while making policy decisions on technological evolutionary trajectories [10]. There are
4

already evidences of how this participatory technology assessment can lead to significant learning and opinion changes in the evolution of emerging technologies such as nanotechnology [11]. Only when we recognize the importance of technology assessment before any new technology gets entrenched in the society, will we realize a meaningful balance between happy living and robotic existence? Technology assessment is not a one-time task but an incessant process and should evolve at a much rapid rate. Or else, we willremain submerged in the unanticipated outcomes of new technologies. Unfortunately, there is no adequate focus and informed discussion on these issues in the public domain except in a few cases [11,12]. The odds against those suggesting a careful assessment and a balanced integration of technology in our lives are staggering and such advocates may even be considered as anti-technology and old-fashioned. Given the situation, it is time for a concerted effort to rethink whether to adopt technology assessment as an integral part of technology development and if so, how soon we should do it. The fertile ground to create this appreciation is the schools and colleges where we groom the future technology creators and its users. Isnt reaping the benefits of new technologies as important as being cognizant of their destabilizing effects? As scientists and academicians, we have an obligation to raise awareness among our youngsters and general public no sooner than later. Is anyone listening?

AQ1

M. Jagadesh Kumar
NXP (Philips) Chair Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India

References
1. 2. D. Banta, What is technology assessment?, International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care, Vol. 25, pp. 7-9, 2009. J. Sullins, Information Technology and Moral Values, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2012 Ed), In: E.N. Zalta, editor. Available from: http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/ fall2012/entries/it-moral-values/. [Last accessed on 2013 Jan 31]. Is Technology Producing A Decline In Critical Thinking and Analysis?, Science Daily, University of California Los Angeles, January 29, 2009. Available from: http://www.sciencedaily.com/ releases/2009/01/090128092341.htm [Last accessed on 2013 Jan 31]. "Children, Adolescents and Television", American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Public Education, Pediatrics, Vol. 107, no. 2, pp. 423-6, 2001. Available from: http://www.ox.ac.uk/media/news_ stories/2011/110804.html [Last accessed on 2013 Jan 31]. L. Leung and P .S.N. Lee, Impact of Internet Literacy, Internet Addiction Symptoms, and Internet Activities on Academic Performance, Social Science Computer Review, Vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 403-18, Nov. 2012.

3.

4.

5. 6.

IETE TECHNICAL REVIEW | VoL 30 | ISSUE 1 | JAN-FEB 2013

Kumar MJ: The Malady of Technology in Our Lives 7. S.W. Choi, Internet addiction: Why we become addicted to the Internet?, Asia- Pacific Psychiatry, Vol. 4, Special Issue: SI Supplement: 1, pp. 12-12, Oct. 2012. K. Wilcox and A.T. Stephen, Are Close Friends the Enemy? Online Social Networks, Self-Esteem, and Self-Control, Journal of Consumer Research, Forthcoming Columbia Business School Research Paper No. 12-57, Date posted: October 3, 2012. http:// ssrn.com/abstract=2155864. B. Popoveniuc, Psycho-logic within techno-logical settings, European Journal of Science and Theology, Vol. 9, pp. 143-55, Feb. 2013. D.L. Kleinman, Rethink Technology Assessment, Issues in Science and Technology, Vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 20-2, 2011. Available from: http://web.mit.edu/sturkle/techself/ [Last accessed on 2013 Jan 31].

9. 10. 11.

8.

AUTHOR
M. Jagadesh Kumar is currently the NXP (Philips) Chair Professor established at IIT Delhi by Philips Semiconductors, The Netherlands. He is a Principal Investigator of the Nano-scale Research Facility at IIT Delhi. He was earlier the Coordinator of the VLSI Design, Tools, and Technology interdisciplinary program at IIT Delhi. His research interests include nanoelectronic devices, device modeling, and simulation for nanoscale applications, integrated-circuit technology, and power semiconductor devices. Dr. Kumar is a fellow of the Indian National Academy of Engineering, The National Academy of Sciences, India. and the Institution of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineers (IETE), India. He is recognized as a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE Electron Devices Society (EDS). He is an Editor of the IEEE TRANSACTIoNS oN ELECTRoN DEVICES. He was a recipient of the 29th IETE Ram LalWadhwa Gold Medal for his distinguished contribution in the field of semiconductor device design and modeling. He was also the first recipient of the India Semiconductor AssociationVLSI Society of India TechnoMentor Award given by the India Semiconductor Association to recognize a distinguished Indian academician for playing a significant role as a Mentor and Researcher. He is also a recipient of the 2008 IBM Faculty Award. Email: mamidala@ieee.org

DOI: ???; Paper No. TR 8_13; Copyright 2013 by the IETE

Author Queries: AQ1: Please provide Reference 12 in the Reference list???

IETE TECHNICAL REVIEW | VoL 30 | ISSUE 1 | JAN-FEB 2013